17.12.2021
OVER A BILLION EUROS FOR EUROPE'S DIGITAL CONNECTIVITY BY 2023
The European Commission has adopted the first work program for the digital part of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF Digital), which sets out the scope and objectives of EU-supported action needed to improve Europe's digital connectivity infrastructures over a 3-year period. Funding of more than € 1 billion has been allocated to these actions (for 2021-2023).
By promoting public and private investment, CEF Digital will contribute to connectivity projects of common interest to the EU and to the deployment of safe, secure and sustainable high-performance infrastructure, including gigabit and 5G networks across the EU. Improving Europe's connectivity infrastructure will be essential to Europe's digital transformation, as set out in the Road to the Digital Decade, and to ensure that all EU households have access to gigabit connectivity and all populations. areas will be covered by 5G by 2030.
On this occasion, Margrethe Westeger, Executive Vice-President for Europe Prepared for the Digital Age, said: "Investing in cross-border connectivity will continue to play a key role in Europe's transformation and competitiveness. Improving networks and infrastructure will give European citizens and businesses access to new jobs, as well as the opportunity to compete in new markets and develop their activities."
Thierry Breton, Commissioner for the Internal Market, added: "Secure and high-speed connectivity is the foundation on which we will build Europe's digital decade. It will give Europeans access to digital skills, enable businesses to innovate and help deliver unprecedented applications in areas such as health, education and online public services."
The Connecting Europe Facility funding program will also strengthen connectivity networks by supporting new or improving existing supporting infrastructures within the EU and between the EU and third countries. This is essential for the interconnection of digital capacities, such as cloud computing services, data and computing technologies, in line with the EU's ambition to maintain its digital sovereignty.
CEF Digital
The following key actions are expected to be supported under the CEF Digital:
Next steps
The first calls for proposals under the Connecting Europe Facility in the field of digital technologies will be published in early January 2022. Shortly after the launch, stakeholders will be able to attend an "information day" to learn more about the priorities. and the main aspects of the calls, as well as the evaluation and award process.
Context
With a budget of up to € 2 billion by 2027, the CEF Digital will support the digital transformation and Europe's goals for fixed and mobile connectivity in the context of the Digital Decade. It is part of the Connecting Europe Facility, which supports € 33.7 billion in investments in trans-European digital, transport and energy networks between 2021 and 2027.
The first generation of the Connecting Europe Facility for the period 2014-2020 improved the infrastructures connecting Member States and provided free wireless internet to local communities through the WiFi4EU program. It also supported the deployment of very high capacity networks in rural and semi-rural areas across Europe through the Broadband Fund for Europe (CEBF).
For more information
Connecting Europe Facility - Work Program
17.12.2021
THE MAP OF REGIONAL AID FOR BULGARIA FOR THE PERIOD 2022-2027 HAS BEEN APPROVED
The European Commission has approved, in accordance with the EU rules on state aid, the map of Bulgaria for granting regional aid from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2027 within the revised guidelines for regional aid.
The revised Guidelines on Regional Aid, adopted by the Commission on 19 April 2021 and entering into force on 1 January 2022, enable Member States to help Europe's most disadvantaged regions to catch up and reduce disparities in economic prosperity, income and unemployment - the cohesion goals that underpin the Union. In addition, they give Member States more opportunities to support regions facing transition challenges or structural challenges, such as depopulation, to make a full contribution to the environmental and digital transition.
At the same time, the revised regional aid guidelines contain strong measures to prevent Member States from using public funds to stimulate the export of jobs from one EU Member State to another, which is essential for fair competition in the single market.
The map of Bulgaria for regional aid indicates the Bulgarian regions that meet the conditions for granting regional investment aid. In addition, it sets out the maximum aid intensities in the eligible regions. The aid intensity is the maximum amount of state aid that can be granted to a beneficiary, expressed as a percentage of the eligible investment costs.
According to the revised guidelines for regional aid, the conditions for granting regional aid are met by regions covering the entire population of Bulgaria.
In each of the above regions, the maximum aid intensities may be increased by 10 percentage points for investments by medium-sized enterprises and by 20 percentage points for investments by small enterprises in the case of their initial investment with eligible costs of up to EUR 50 million.
Following the launch of the future Territorial Plan for a Fair Transition under the Fair Transition Fund Regulation, Bulgaria will have the opportunity to notify the Commission of changes to the regional aid map approved today in order to maximize aid intensities in future areas of the Fair Transition transition, as indicated for type "a" regions in the revised regional aid guidelines.
Context
Europe has always been marked by significant regional disparities in economic prosperity, income and unemployment. Regional aid aims to support the economic development of disadvantaged regions in Europe, while ensuring a level playing field between Member States.
In the Guidelines on regional aid, the Commission shall determine the conditions under which regional aid may be considered compatible with the internal market and shall establish the criteria for determining the regions eligible under Article 107 (3) (a) and (c). of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (type "a" and "c" regions respectively). The annexes to the guidelines list the least favored regions (so-called "a" regions), which include the outermost regions and the regions where GDP per capita is less than or equal to 75% of the average. for the EU, and pre-defined 'c' regions, which are former 'a' regions and sparsely populated regions.
Member States may designate so-called "c" type regions which are not pre-defined, subject to a maximum pre-defined type "c" coverage (figures are given in Annexes I and II to the Guidelines), and in accordance with certain criteria. Member States need to submit their proposal for regional aid maps to the Commission for approval.
A non-confidential version of today's decision will be available under case number SA.64724 (in the State Aid Register) on the website of DG Competition. New publications of State aid decisions on the Internet and in the Official Journal are listed in the State Aid Weekly e-News.
17.12.2021
2021 THROUGH THE EYES OF BUSINESS
BIA presented the results of its traditional online survey of members of the Chamber, conducted in the period November 8 - December 8, 2021 among 817 micro, small, medium and large enterprises across the country and from all sectors of the economy.
The survey is being conducted for the 17th consecutive year, and the aim is to examine the state of business in the current macroeconomic conditions. The main topics are related to the impact of political processes internationally and nationally on business in Bulgaria, as well as business planning for the next calendar year. This year, special emphasis is placed on the impact of the covid crisis on business.
For the last decade, 2020 was the year full of business negativity - both as an assessment of the current situation and as a vision for the future. A year later, there is a timid attempt to push from the bottom. This year, the pessimism is most pronounced regarding the expectations for a drastic rise in the prices of energy resources and raw materials, inflation - both nationally and globally.
Concerns in business are rooted mainly in the ongoing (and in the foreseeable future) covid crisis, as well as in the political turbulence in our country, which leads to instability and ambiguity, inability to be predictable and planning.
The general feeling is that the support measures are insufficient and slow. Therefore, it is not surprising that less than half of the companies have benefited from some of the anti-crisis measures - especially those to support employment. Real measures to support corporate liquidity are missing or not attractive and well-known enough.
As a result, businesses are doing the (un) possible to save jobs and market positions, incl. by adapting costs, transforming production, using digital technologies, developing online sales, telecommuting, flexible working hours, holidays and staff optimization.
The covid crisis has created a shortage of working capital in almost 80% of enterprises. This, combined with years of problems with bureaucracy, regulatory and administrative burdens, an unstable regulatory environment, corruption and inefficient judiciary, puts heavy pressure on any business venture.
In the conditions of unclear perspectives, mainly related to the development of the medical crisis and the accompanying interruptions in the supply chains, shortage of raw materials and energy resources, the business remains highly pessimistic, so its expectations and plans for the future are too cautious, subject to pragmatism.
17.12.2021
FARMERS ARE CHECKING THAT THEIR FIELDS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR SUPPORT
Farmers can now check whether their fields are eligible for support. If they have objections to the data, they must submit it no later than January 7.
Farmers can check whether the areas of subsidization they have applied for fall within the scope of the specialized layer project, the areas eligible for support. They can also get acquainted with the preliminary results of the inspections of the fields requested by them, as inquiries are made in the electronic services system of the Agriculture Fund.
In case of disagreement in the specified data, each candidate may submit an objection to the Minister of Agriculture.
Objection samples are generated automatically by the electronic services system.
Farmers who are registered in the system will be able to generate objections from their personal profiles in it, and the rest - from the public part of the system, after which objections will be submitted to the regional directorates "Agriculture".
17.12.2021
AN IMPORTANT DEADLINE FOR INCOME TAXATION IS COMING TO AN END
Individuals registered as farmers have the right to choose the order of taxation of income from their activities in 2022, reminded by the National Revenue Agency (NRA).
The right to choose is exercised by submitting a declaration under Art. 29a, para. 4 of the Personal Income Tax Act by December 31 of the previous year. The choice is valid for 5 consecutive tax years and does not need to be confirmed annually by submitting a new return. Upon taxation under the procedure provided for sole proprietors, natural persons registered as farmers may not exercise the right to assign the tax on the annual tax base, which is provided for in Art. 48, para. 6 of the Personal Income Tax Act.
Newly registered in 2021 farmers can choose for the same year to be taxed on the annual tax base under the procedure provided for sole proprietors (Article 28 of the Income Tax Act), and the choice is declared in the annual tax return under Art. 50 of the Personal Income Tax Act for 2021.
In case they wish to continue with this order of taxation in 2022 and the next four years, it is necessary to submit a declaration under Art. 29a, para. 4 of the Personal Income Tax Act by 31 December 2021.
The sample declaration for choosing the order of taxation of farmers' income can be found on the website of the Revenue Agency www.nra.bg, section "Forms".
The declaration is submitted personally by the farmer or his authorized representative in the office of the NRA at the permanent address of the individual. The declaration can be submitted electronically through the electronic services portal of the Revenue Agency or by mail.
More information on choosing the procedure for taxation of income, filling out the declaration and paying the taxes due, farmers can get on the phone of the Information Center of the NRA: 0700 18 700 (at a price according to the tariff of the operator).
17.12.2021
THE ROMANIANS ARE BEATING US AND THE GREEKS ON THE STANDARD OF LIVING
The lowest standard of living in the EU in 2020 was reported in Bulgaria (39% below the EU-27 average in 2020), followed by Croatia, where in 2020 it was one third (32%) more low than the European Union average.
Unlike us, Romania has climbed 7 positions and its population has a higher standard than in Estonia and Greece.
This is shown by Eurostat data on actual individual consumption, published on Thursday. The indicator measures the actual consumption of goods and services in a country, whether paid for by households, the state or non-profit organizations.
Bulgaria also has the lowest GDP per capita - 45% below the EU-27 average.
In 2020, the highest standard, expressed in real individual consumption per capita, was registered in Luxembourg, 45% higher than the European Union average, according to the latest Eurostat estimate.
It is followed by Germany and Denmark, where it is 24 and 22% higher than the average, respectively, and close to the Netherlands and Austria, where it is 17 and 16% above the European average.
The closest to the average in terms of actual individual consumption per capita in 2020 were Cyprus, Italy and Lithuania, where the standard was about four percent lower than the EU average. It was 10 percent lower in Ireland and slightly above the French average.
16.12.2021
ROMANIA REQUIRES AN ELECTRONIC ENTRY FORM
Romania introduces Passenger Location Form (PLF) requisite arrivals from December 20th. The measure is in force for all citizens (Romanian citizens and foreigners) who enter the territory of Romania or transit through Romania, regardless of the purpose of their trip, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.
The form can be filled in electronically through the specially created platform https://plf.gov.ro without the need to print. This must be done within 24 hours before entering the country or, exceptionally, no more than 24 hours after entering. Failure to comply with the measure will be punished by a fine of 2,000 to 3,000 Romanian lei (400-600 euros).
If they need assistance, Bulgarian citizens can contact our embassy in Bucharest at +40 21 230 21 50; +40 21 230 21 59 or on-call telephones during non-working hours: +40 21 230 21 50; +40 21 230 21 59.
16.12.2021
ROMANIA HAS POSTPONED ITS GOAL OF JOINING THE EUROZONE UNTIL 2029
The next report on when Romania plans to adopt the euro will target 2029, said Florin Georgescu, deputy governor of the central bank. Another shift back in time reflects the current situation with the macroeconomic indicators, which requires time and significant adjustments to meet the criteria of the single currency area.
"The lack of political will on the part of the governments that ruled Romania since joining the EU in 2007 is demonstrated by the number of times the date has been changed," Georgescu explained.
The review of deadlines is usually done once a year and is included in the Convergence Report submitted by the Bucharest authorities to the European Commission. Initially, the target for adopting the euro - an obligation under the EU Treaty - was set in 2014. But then the deadline was changed to 2019, then to 2024, and now it is moving for another five years.
Romania had some chance to apply for the preparation mechanism for the adoption of the euro ERM II in 2015-2017, when it technically met the Maastricht criteria for price stability, sustainability of public finances and debt, stable exchange rates and long-term interest rates. Currently, the country does not meet these criteria.
Croatia and Bulgaria expect to adopt the euro in 2023 and 2024, respectively, and according to Raiffeisen economists quoted by bne IntelliNews, there will probably be a long pause in eurozone enlargement because of the arguments for accepting the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Romania did not look convincing.
16.12.2021
BGN 32.7 BILLION IS THE EXPORT TO THE EU
During the period January - September 2021 the export of goods from Bulgaria to the EU increased by 23.7% compared to the same period of 2020 and amounted to BGN 32,790.0 million. Bulgaria's main trade partners are Germany, Romania, Italy, Greece, France and Belgium, which account for 69.4% of exports to EU member states.
In September 2021 the exports to the EU increased by 24.2% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year and amounted to 3 947.1 Million BGN.
In the period January - September 2021 in the export of goods from Bulgaria to the EU, distributed according to the Standard Foreign Trade Classification, the highest growth compared to the same period in 2020 was observed in the sectors "Animal and vegetable fats, oils and waxes origin” (128.6%) and “Mineral fuels, oils and related products” (39.6%). A decrease was observed only in the sector "Soft and alcoholic beverages and tobacco" (14.8%).
The import of goods in Bulgaria from the EU in the period January - September 2021 increased by 25.3% compared to the same period of 2020 and amounted to BGN 33,199.8 million (at CIF prices). The largest is the value of goods imported from Germany, Romania, Italy, Greece, the Netherlands and Hungary.
In September 2021 the imports of Bulgaria from the EU Member States increased by 27.4% compared to the same month of the previous year and amounted to 4 166.4 Million BGN.
In imports of goods from the EU, distributed according to the Standard Foreign Trade Classification, in the period January - September 2021 the largest increase compared to the same period last year was reported in the sector "Fats, oils and waxes of animal and vegetable origin" (131.5%). No decline was observed in any of the sectors.
The foreign trade balance (FOB exports - CIF imports) of Bulgaria with the EU in the period January - September 2021 was negative and amounted to BGN 409.8 million.
16.12.2021
WHICH PROFESSIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN SHORT SUPPLY NEXT YEAR
78 are the specialties of professions for which there is an expected shortage on the labor market. Among them are machine technicians, machine operators, electricians, electricians, chemist technologists, biotechnologists, glass production workers, shipbuilders, translators from and into Bulgarian sign language, polygraphists and others.
This is stated in the reasons for the draft Decree, which proposes updating the List of protected specialties of professions for the academic year 2022/2023 and updating the List of specialties of professions for which there is an expected shortage of specialists in the market of labor for the academic year 2022/2023, uploaded for public discussion. They are prepared with the participation of ministries and employers' organizations in accordance with the provisions of the Vocational Education and Training Act.
After the update of the list, the protected specialties are 50. They are in the field of mechanical engineering, metallurgy, mining, architecture, construction, transport, electrical engineering and energy, applied arts and others.
The list of state-protected specialties is supplemented by two new ones. These are "Locomotives and wagons" (profession "Railway fitter") and "Production of meat, meat products and fish" (profession "Operator in the food industry"). "Renewable energy sources" (profession "Technician of energy facilities and installations") is added to the list of specialties with expected shortages in the labor market.
The specialties "Computer-aided design and patterning of woven surface products" (profession "Textile Designer"), "Agriculture" (profession "Plant Breeder") and "Beekeeping and sericulture" (profession "Livestock Technician") will not be protected in the future. They no longer meet the criterion of territorial uniqueness because they are studied in more than four schools in the country.
The changes will be valid for the school year 2022/2023.
